Fork link for use in the heddle frame linkage of a weaving machine

ABSTRACT

A forked link comprises two prongs, each of which has a bearing eye. The bearing eyes are coaxial and adapted to receive a pivot. A screw drive is disposed between and operatively connected to said prongs and operable to cause said prongs to spread said bearing eyes apart and to move them toward each other.

[ Mar. 18, 1975 FORK LINK FOR USE IN THE HEDDLE FRAME LINKAGE OF A WEAVING MACHINE Inventor: Walther Filter, Langenhagen,

Germany Assignees: Vereinigte Osterreichische Eisenund Stahlwcrke-Alpine Montan Aktiengesellschaft, Vienna, Austria; Establissement Wanderfield & C0.,

' Schaan, Liechtenstein Filed: July 17, 1973 Appl. No.: 380,062

Foreign Application Priority Data July 27, 1972 Austria 6456/72 US. Cl. 139/88, 403/157 Int. Cl. D03c 13/00 Field of Search 139/88, 84, 82, 57, 58,

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1/1961 Weston ..403/157 12/1973 Palan 139/88 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 1,160,622 3/1958 France 139/57 1,127,685 8/1956 France 139/84 404,582 7/1966 Switzerland 139/88 OTHER PUBLlCATlONS 1,114,764 1042 1961, Ger. Application (Schwarz) 403l57.

Primary Examiner-James Kee Chi Attorney, Agent, or FirmKurt Kelman [57] ABSTRACT A forked link comprises two prongs, each of which has a bearing eye The bearing eyes are coaxial and adapted to receive a pivot. A screw drive is disposed between and operatively connected to said prongs and operable to cause said prongs to spread said bearing eyes apart and to move them toward each other.

5 Claims, 2 Drawing Figures prising two bearing eyes provided in respective prongs of the fork andadapted to receive a pivot pin or the like.

It is known that the heddle frame linkage of a weaving machine is divided into pivotally connected members. One member of the heddle frame linkage terminates in such a hinge fork and the next member of the linkage has an eye which receives the pivot pin between the prongs of the fork. A self-aligning or ball bearing may be provided here, which carries two axle journals instead of one pivot pin. In any case, the members of the heddle frame linkage must be accommodated in the space allowed for each heddle frame. 'For this reason, the pivoted forks must be as thin as possible and must have no parts which protrude in the direction of the pivotal axis so that the pivot pin or the like cannot be locked against an axial displacement by split pins, circlips or the like.

, Whereas it is known to calk the pivot pins in the bearing eyes of the fork prongs, this is possible only if the pins are made of relatively soft material, which involves a high wear, particularly because the frequency of load reversals is high. It is difficult to replace the pins and the like, and the assembly and disassembly are difficult and require suitable tools.

It is an object of the invention to eliminate these disadvantages and provide a fork link which is of the kind described first hereinbefore and which enables a quick replacement of the pivot held in the fork Without need for tools, and in which hardened pivot pins can be used and which has only a small thickness.

This object is accomplished according to the invention in that the two prongs are adapted to be spread apart and drawn toward each other by means of a screw drive which is disposed between the prongs. For a disassembly, it is sufficient to operate the screw drive so as to spread apart the two prongs to such an extent that the pivot pin or the self-aligning or ball bearing or the like can be removed from the fork. When a new pin or the like has been inserted, the screw drive is operated in the opposite sense so that the prongs are drawn toward each other and hold the pivot pin or the like between them; it will be sufficient if the pivot pin has recessed ends journaled in the bearing eyes of the prongs.

Whereas it is known to spread simple forked links apart when it is desired to remove the pivot pin, this has not been possible before without a tool and, even when the two prongs are resilient and tend to move toward each other, it is not ensured that the prongs actually hold the new pin in position when the same has been inserted and the prongs have been bent toward each other.

A particularly desirable structure will be obtained according to the invention if the screw drive comprises two bushings which are fixed in respective prongs of the fork and coaxially aligned and provided with oppositely handed female screw threads, and an operating wheel which is disposed between the bushings and has two screw-threaded stub shafts screw-threaded in respective ones of the bushings. Upon a rotation of the wheel in one direction or the other, the prongs of the fork will be spread apart or drawn together. The thickness of the operating wheel may be much smaller than the distance between the prongs of the fork so that the screw threads in the bushings and on the stub shafts will be of sufficient length. Nevertheless such screw drive may be accommodated even in a very narrow forked link.

To prevent an undesired loosening of the pivot pin or the like by a rotation of the operating wheel as a result of vibrations which occur during the operation of the machine, the operating wheel is adapted to be locked in position by an angled free end portion of a U-shaped spring inserted into a bore in the periphery of the wheel.

The two prongs of the fork are resiliently biased toward each other in a known manner so that, when the prongs have been drawn toward each other, a snug engagement of the prongs with the shoulders of the pivot pin or with the bearing is ensured.

An embodiment of the invention is shown by way of example on the accompanying drawing in which FIG. 1 shows a fork link, partly in section, and

FIG. 2 is a side elevation showing the fork on a larger scale.

Forked link 3 included in the heddle frame linkage of a-weaving machine comprises two prongs l and 2. A screw drive is provided between the two prongs 1 and 2 and is operable to spread the prongs apart and to draw them toward each other. The screw drive comprises two coaxially aligned bushings 4, 5 which are fixed in respective prongs l and 2 and provided with oppositely handed screw threads, and an operating wheel 8, which is disposed between the bushings 4, 5 and has two screw-threaded stub shafts 6, 7 which are screw-threaded in the bushings.

Upon a rotation of the operating wheel 8, the hinge fork will be opened or closed by the action of the oppositely handed screw threads, depending on the selected sense of rotation. As a result, a pivot pin 9 for connection to another part of the linkage can be embraced by the prongs from the outside and can be held in position between said prongs. The pivot .pin has reduced journals 10 which extend into the bearing eyes 11 of the prongs.

The two prongs 1,2 are resilient and biased toward each other so that, when drawn toward each other in the absence of the pivot pin 9, they assume the position which is indicated in dotted lines in FIG. 1.

To lock the forked link in its closed position, a U- shaped spring 12 is provided, which snaps into a bore 13 inthe periphery of the operating wheel 8 to lock the same against an undesired rotation.

To facilitate the operation of the operating wheel its diameter is larger than the width of the prongs l, 2 and the wheel is knurled at its periphery.

What is claimed is:

l. A heddle frame linkage comprising 1. a pivotal connecting means, and

2. a forked link having two prongs each of which has a bearing eye receiving the pivotal connecting means,

a. the bearing eyes being coaxially aligned and b. the prongs being adapted to be spread apart and moved towards each other in the direction of the axis of the bearing eyes, and

c. a screw drive disposed between, and operatively connected to, the prongs, the screw drive being operable to spread the prongs apart and move them towards each other.

v 4 adapted'to be inserted into a peripheral herein the operating wheel for locking the wheel in position.

4. The heddle frame linkage of claim 1, wherein the pivotal connecting means is a pivot pin received in the bearing eyes.

5. The heddle frame linkage of claim 1, wherein the prongs are resiliently biased towards'each other. 

1. A heddle frame linkage comprising
 1. a pivotal connecting means, and
 2. a forked link having two prongs each of which has a bearing eye receiving the pivotal connecting means, a. the bearing eyes being coaxially aligned and b. the prongs being adapted to be spread apart and moved towards each other in the direction of the axis of the bearing eyes, and c. a screw drive disposed between, and operatively connected to, the prongs, the screw drive being operable to spread the prongs apart and move them towards each other.
 2. a forked link having two prongs each of which has a bearing eye receiving the pivotal connecting means, a. the bearing eyes being coaxially aligned and b. the prongs being adapted to be spread apart and moved towards each other in the direction of the axis of the bearing eyes, and c. a screw drive disposed between, and operatively connected to, the prongs, the screw drive being operable to spread the prongs apart and move them towards each other.
 2. The heddle frame linkage of claim 1, wherein the screw drive comprises two coaxial bushings fixed in a respective one of the prongs, the bushings having oppositely handed screw threads, and an operating wheel disposed between the bushings, the operating wheel having two screw-threaded stub shafts threadedly engaging a respective one of the bushings.
 3. The heddle frame linkage of claim 2, further comprising a U-shaped spring having an angled end portion adapted to be inserted into a peripheral bore in the operating wheel for locking the wheel in position.
 4. The heddle frame linkage of claim 1, wherein the pivotal connecting means is a pivot pin received in the bearing eyes.
 5. The heddle frame linkage of claim 1, wherein the prongs are resiliently biased towards each other. 